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Roots
and
Radicals
Roots and Radicals
Radicals (also called roots) are
directly related to exponents.
Roots and Radicals
The simplest types of radicals are
square roots and cube roots.
Radicals beyond square roots and
cube roots exist, but we will not
explore them here.
Roots and Radicals
The rules for radicals that you
will learn work for all radicals –
not just square roots and cube
roots.
Roots and Radicals
The symbol used to indicate a
root is the radical symbol -
Roots and Radicals
Every radical expression has
three parts…
• Radical symbol
• Index
• Radicand
Roots and Radicals
Every radical expression has
Radical
three parts…
Index
2
49
Radicand
Roots and Radicals
The index of a radical is a whole
number greater than or equal to 2.
Roots and Radicals
The index of a square root is
always 2.
Roots and Radicals
By convention, an index of 2 is
not written since it is the smallest
possible index.
Roots and Radicals
The square root of 49 could
2
be written as 49 …
but is normally written as 49 .
Roots and Radicals
plural of index
All indices greater than 2 must be
written.
The index of a cube root is
always 3.
Roots and Radicals
The cube root of 64 is written as
3
64 .
Roots and Radicals
What does square root mean?
What does cube root mean?
Roots and Radicals
The square root of a number (or
expression) is another number (or
expression)…
…which when multiplied by itself
(squared) gives back the original
number (or expression).
Roots and Radicals
The cube root of a number (or
expression) is another number (or
expression) …
…which when multiplied by itself
three times (cubed) gives back the
original number (or expression).
Roots and Radicals
Example:
49  7
because
7  7  7  49
2
Also
49   7
because  7  7    7   49
2
Intermediate Algebra MTH04
Roots and Radicals
Example:
49
has two answers:
7 is called the positive or principal
square root.
-7 is called the negative square root.
Intermediate Algebra MTH04
Roots and Radicals
Example:
3
3
64  4
because
4  4  4  4  64
3
 64   4 because
3
 4 4 4   4   64
Intermediate Algebra MTH04
Roots and Radicals
What are the first 10 whole numbers
that are perfect squares?
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10
1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100
2
Intermediate Algebra MTH04
Roots and Radicals
What are the first 10 whole numbers
that are perfect cubes?
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10
3
1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216, 343, 512, 729, 1000
Roots and Radicals
If a number is a perfect square, then you
can find its exact square root.
A perfect square is simply a number (or
expression) that can be written as the
square [raised to 2nd power] of another
number (or expression).
Roots and Radicals
principal square root
Examples:
16  4
16  4
2
25  5
2
1.44  1.2
25  5
2
9 3
 
121  11 
1.44  1.2
2
9
3

121 11
Roots and Radicals
principal square root
Examples:
36b  6b 
36b 2  6b
 
m m
2
2
m  m
6
3 2
6
3
Roots and Radicals
If a number is a perfect cube, then you can
find its exact cube root.
A perfect cube is simply a number (or
expression) that can be written as the cube
[raised to 3rd power] of another number (or
expression).
Roots and Radicals
principal cube root
Examples:
64  4
3
3
125  5
3
3
1.728  1.2
3
216  6 
 
125  5 
3
64  4
125  5
1.728  1.2
3
3
216 6

125 5
Roots and Radicals
principal cube root
Examples:
8c
3
3


 2c
 
m  m
6
 27 y
12

2 3
  3y

4 3
3
3
8c 3  2c
3
m6  m 2
 27 y12   3 y 4
Intermediate Algebra MTH04
Roots and Radicals
Not all numbers or expressions have
an exact square root or cube root as
in the previous examples.
Intermediate Algebra MTH04
Roots and Radicals
If a number is NOT a perfect square, then
you CANNOT find its exact square root.
If a number is NOT a perfect cube, then
you CANNOT find its exact cube root.
You can approximate these square roots
and cube roots of real numbers with a
calculator.
Intermediate Algebra MTH04
Roots and Radicals
Examples:
40 
6.325
135  11.619
3
40 
3.42
3
74 
4.198
Intermediate Algebra MTH04
Roots and Radicals
If a number is NOT a perfect square, then
you might also be able to SIMPLIFY it.
What is the process to simplify a square root?
Roots and Radicals
If the expression is not a perfect square ...
1. see if you can rewrite the expression as
a product of two smaller factors...
2. where one of the factors is a perfect
square.
Roots and Radicals
3. Then, extract the the square root of
the factor that is a perfect square …
4. and multiply that answer times the
other factor still under the radical
symbol.
Roots and Radicals
Examples – Simplifying Square Roots:
perfect square
40  4 10  2 10
135  9 15  3 15
50x 
7
25x  2 x  5 x
6
3
2x
Roots and Radicals
If a number is NOT a perfect cube, then
you might also be able to SIMPLIFY it.
What is the process to simplify a cube root?
Intermediate Algebra MTH04
Roots and Radicals
If the expression is not a perfect cube ...
1. see if you can rewrite the expression as a
product of two smaller factors...
2. where one of the factors is a perfect cube.
Roots and Radicals
3. Then, extract the the cube root of the
factor that is a perfect cube…
4. and multiply that answer times the
other factor still under the radical
symbol.
Roots and Radicals
Examples – Simplifying Cube Roots:
80 
3
8 10  2 10
405 
3
27 15  3 15
3
3
3
3
3
24x  8x  3x  2 x
8
3
perfect cube
6
2
23
3x
2
Roots and Radicals
Not all square roots can be simplified!
Example:
77
cannot be simplified!
• 77 is not a perfect square …
• and it does not have a factor
that is a perfect square.
Roots and Radicals
Not all cube roots can be simplified!
Example: 3
30
cannot be simplified!
• 30 is not a perfect cube …
• and it does not have a factor
that is a perfect cube.
Roots and Radicals
The Rules (Properties)
Multiplication
Division
a b 
a

b
a b
a
b
b may not be equal to 0.
Roots and Radicals
The Rules (Properties)
Multiplication
3
a b 
3
3
a b
Division
3
3
a

b
3
a
b
b may not be equal to 0.
Roots and Radicals
Examples:
Multiplication
3  3  33
 9 3
Division
96

6
96
6
 16  4
Roots and Radicals
Examples:
Multiplication
3
5  3 16  3 5 16
 3 80
Division
3
270 3 270

3
5
5
 8 10
 3 54  3 27  2
 8  10
 3 27  3 2
 2 10
3 2
3
3
3
3
3
Roots and Radicals
To add or subtract square roots or
cube roots...
• simplify each radical
• add or subtract LIKE radicals by
adding their coefficients.
Two radicals are LIKE if they have the same
expression under the radical symbol.
Roots and Radicals
Examples:
3 64 6 7 6
2 11  6 11   4 11
3
3
3
Roots and Radicals
Example:
12  5 3 
43  5 3
 2 3  5 3
 7 3
Roots and Radicals
Example:
 3  3 40  3 135  7
 3  8  5  27  5  7
3
3
 3  23 5  33 5  7
4 5
3
Roots and Radicals
Examples:
4

6
4
6 4 6 4 6 2 6




6
3
6 6
36
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
10
10 4
10 4
10 4
10 4
5 4






3
3
3
3
4
2
4 3 42
4
4  3 42
43
Roots and Radicals
Example:


3
3
2  10
 3 2  10



2  10
2  10 2  10
2  10 2  10



 3 2  10
2 2  10 2

   32 
10
4  10

 3 2  10
2  10


6
2



Roots and Radicals
Solving Radical Equations
A radical equation is simply one that has a
radical term that contains a variable.
Example:
c 2  5
Roots and Radicals
To solve a radical equation
• Get the radical term by itself on one side of the
equation.
• Square both sides of the equation.
• Finish solving for the variable, if needed.
• Check your solution. This is critical when solving
radical equations.
Roots and Radicals
Example:
c 2  5
c  3
 c
2
 3
c  9
2
Roots and Radicals
Example:
2x  3  7

 2
2x  3  5
2x  3

2
 5
2
2 x  3  25
2 x  28
x  14